Selective C-F and C-H Activation of Fluoroarenes by Fe(PMe3)4 and Catalytic Performance of Iron Hydride in Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds

The reactions of perfluorinated toluene (CF3C6F5), pentafluoropyridine (C5NF5), and hexafluorobenzene (C6F6) with the iron(0) complex Fe(PMe3)4 were investigated. The Fe(I) complexes (4-CF3C6F4)Fe(PMe3)4 (1), (4-C5NF4)Fe(PMe3)4 (2), and (C6F5)Fe(PMe3)4 (3) were obtained by selective activation of the C–F bonds. However, under similar reaction conditions, the reaction of Fe(PMe3)4 with perfluoronaphthalene (C10F8) afforded a π-coordinated Fe(0) complex, (η4-1,2,3,4-C10F8)Fe(PMe3)3 (4), and the expected C–F bond activation reaction was not observed. The expected iron hydride (C6F5)FeH(PMe3)4 (6) could be obtained in a yield of 80% by the reaction of bromopentafluorobenzene with Fe(PMe3)4 and subsequent reduction with NaBH4. The molecular structures of complexes 2, 4, and 6 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1–4 and 6 could be used as catalysts for the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds. Among them, complex 6 is the best catalyst. The selective reduction of carbonyl groups of α...